Finchs Line viewpoint

This pleasant walk follows part of the historic Finchs Line road, the original route for the Great North Road up the hills just north of Wisemans Ferry. The walk starts in moist, fern covered scenery and climbs to drier forest and some stunning views over the Hawkesbury river and Wisemans Ferry area from the unfenced Finchs Line viewpoint. There are other great views along the way too.

Old Great North Road

The historic Great North Road was built using convict labour between 1826 and 1836 (this section south of Wollombi was completed in 1832). The road formed a link between Sydney and the Hunter Valley, including Newcastle. There are visible remnants of the original work in bridges, retaining walls and other structures along the way. The ‘Convict Trail Project’ has member groups involved in the conservation of historical remnants along the road. The Convict Trail Project and the NPWS have erected information signs at various points to illustrate the history. The Convict Trail Project has an excellent website for further reading. More info.

Wisemans Ferry

Wisemans Ferry village is on the banks of the Hawkesbury river, NSW. The town, and nearby car ferry, is named after Solomon Wiseman, a former convict who received a land grant in the area and established the ferry service. The town is a popular day trip and weekend destination from Sydney. There are several good spots to eat in town, including bistros at the Wisemans Ferry Inn and the Wisemans Ferry Bowling club, and takeaway food from Bush Bites cafe. The Riverbend Restaurant can be found in the ‘Retreat at Wisemans’ for finer dining. The area has some great walking and interesting history surrounding the convict built Old Great North Road. More info.

(0km) Int of Finchs Line and Wisemans Ferry Rd → Walk Bikes Signpost

1.2 km

32 mins

189m

-42m

Moderate track

From the signposted track head, marked as ‘Finchs Line Walking Track’, beside Wisemans Ferry Rd (about 1.8 km east of the car ferry), the walk follows the bush track, going up the hill. There is an information sign after a short distance and the track starts to climb, increasingly steeply, as it zigzags up a steep hill, along the path of Finchs Line Road. There are some beautiful views away from the track and a lot of ferns, grasstrees and vines surrounding the track. After winding up the hill for quite a while the walk arrives at an intersection with a management trail, marked with a sign indicating bikes must be walked (when going back down the hill).

(1.23km) Walk Bikes Signpost → Finchs Line Sth viewpoint

970 m

25 mins

63m

-79m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the signpost, the walk follows the management trail steeply up the hill. After a while, the trail levels out and offers some fantastic views across the valleys on the northern side of the ridge. The trail then switches back to the Hawkesbury side of the ridge arrives at a beautiful rock outcrop with stunning views down across the Hawekesbury and Wisemans Ferry township.

Finchs Line viewpoint

This informal, unfenced (and unnamed) lookout is on the trail along the historic Finchs Line Rd near Wisemans Ferry, NSW. The viewpoint sits on a beautiful outcrop of boulders and provides stunning views down across the Hawkesbury river and Wisemans Ferry township.

Maps for the Finchs Line viewpoint walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-dharugnp-flv
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Hunter weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.
http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_weather_danger.php?walkid=nsw-dharugnp-flv
Forecast snapshot